Jimmy Lefebvre and his family stopped in Whitecourt on May 6, and Mayerthorpe on May 8, while undertaking his walk across Canada, with the goal of raising $100-million for cancer research.

The Can-Survive Walk 2018 is a 5,716-kilometre journey from Grande Prairie to Prince Edward Island, where the grave of Lefebvre’s father is located. Lefebvre said losing multiple family members to cancer motivated him to take on this challenge.

“It wasn’t until my own father passed away from cancer (that I decided),” he added. “Watching that journey and that battle first-hand is what really spurred on the whole decision to make something happen and to do something.”

In preparation for the walk, Lefebvre said he had been training on the track and treadmill since December 2017. He then began his walk on May 1 and plans to end it on Aug. 31, 2018, which would have been his father’s 72nd birthday.

“I haven’t been getting the kilometres in a day that I wanted, but we’ve been a little bit back and forth to home… getting a few more things done,” Lefebvre said. “We haven’t got the early starts that we’ve wanted either, but that’s all coming now that we’re on the road and locked up.”

He added that his legs, ankles and feet would start getting used to the pavement now that the initial phase of the walk was over.

“We’ll hit Edmonton and then we’ll probably stick on (Highway) 16 until we hit Lloydminster,” Lefebvre said, noting how his journey took him through several Canadian cities in order to raise more money and awareness.

The walk aims to fundraise $100-million towards programs and initiatives that fund treatment—both physically and mentally—for those affected by cancer. The funds will also raise awareness and provide education about cancer.

The walk had raised $5,345 as of May 10. Lefebvre stated that $100-million was an achievable target.

“If everybody (in Canada) throws in less than a cup of coffee, we’ve already exceeded our goal,” he said.

For more information on the walk or to make a donation, visit www.theLfoundation.ca or their Facebook page.